Digital Design and Manufacture MSc

The programme runs over 12 months. You will take two semesters of taught courses followed by a research project leading to the submission of your masters dissertation.

Courses can change from year-to-year depending on availability. Those listed provide a representation of courses previously offered. Courses for the forthcoming year will be published on the Degree Programme Table in the Spring.

Semester 1

You will complete the following compulsory courses:

• Additive Manufacture and Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM)
• Industrial Robotics
• Metrology including Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerances (GD&T)
• Digital Design & Manufacture Group Project

Semester 2

You will complete the following compulsory courses:

• Manufacturing Information Systems
• Technology Entrepreneurship
• Geometric Computing

You will also choose optional courses which may include:

• Finite Element Methods for Solids
• Advanced Composite Materials
• Supply Chain Management
• Design of Surgical Tools and Implanted Medical Devices
• Technology and Innovation Management
• Systems Engineering: Thinking and Practice
• Engineering Research Methods with Grand Challenge
• The Finite Element Method

(Revised 11 October 2024 to update list of potential optional courses)

Dissertation

During the summer months, you will complete a research project leading to the submission of a dissertation.

The research project can be on a broad range of digital design and manufacturing topics such as:

• Additive Manufacture
• Manufacturing Data
• Large Scale Metrology
• Technology Entrepreneurship
• Industrial Data Mining
• AI and Machine Learning for Design and Manufacture applications

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

The aim of the program is to allow students with a background in engineering to enhance their first degree within this specialist field, with a structure that blends theory and practice. We will support you to:

• build on your undergraduate or industrial experience
• develop your knowledge and provide a broad foundation in digital manufacturing and design technologies
• be analytical and will provide you with a critical framework to encourage fresh thinking
• discover new creative uses of advanced manufacturing and design technologies
• understand the scope and limitations of digital applications in design and manufacturing
• develop business and entrepreneurial skills in working with digital manufacturing technologies

You will have a bright future in engineering. Our graduates go onto careers in both research and industry. The skills you acquire will be relevant to a broad range of industries including:

• Transport
• Aerospace
• Energy
• Consumer products
• Automotive

Graduates are also equipped with the entrepreneurial skills needed to start up their own businesses and launch new products into the marketplace.

Our Careers Service provides information and advice for taught postgraduate students:

• Careers service

(Revised 11 October 2024 to explain Careers Service resources)

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in Mechanical (including related variations and specialisms such as Agricultural Engineering, Navel Architecture, Aerospace and Aeronautical Engineering) Manufacturing, Automotive Engineering or Industrial Engineering.

Competence in programming is essential. During your degree you must have completed a programming course in a high-level language (such as C++, C#, Java, Python, Matlab or equivalent).

If you apply with an academic background in another field you may be considered if you have completed the equivalent of 40 credits of courses related to manufacturing technology. Your marks for these courses must be equivalent to UK 2:1 as a minimum.

Examples of courses relevant to this degree are:

• manufacturing systems
• advanced manufacturing technology
• industrial systems engineering
• industrial information systems
• industrial automation
• fluid mechanics
• finite element analysis
• mechatronics
• automation
• additive manufacture
• meterology and measurement
• CAD/CAM
• engineering materials
• CNC (Computer Numerical Control)
• metallurgy

This requirement may be partially met by relevant industrial experience. Applicants with non-standard backgrounds may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 65 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 7 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Deposit

If you receive an offer of admission you will need to pay a deposit to secure your place:

• £1,500 (this contributes towards your tuition fees)

Any applicants who are required to pay will receive an offer with full details.

Find out more about tuition fee deposits:

• Tuition fee deposits

Living costs

You will be responsible for covering living costs for the duration of your studies.

Tuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money
  • taking out a loan
  • family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

• UK government and other external funding

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding